SEED HANDLING TECHNOLOGY AND STORAGE BEHAVIOUR OF SALES RETURN SEED UNDER COLD STORAGE CONDITIONS IN MAIZE (Zea mays L.)
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Abstract
An experiment to know effect of handling technology on storage behaviour of sales return maize seed after 2 months of cold storage was conducted during 2020 and 2021 in cold storage unit of Kaveri Seed Company Limited. Maize seed of 218+ and Profit each with three different lots, Fresh seed, one time and two times sales returned seeds (Q3) were packed in 4 different packing materials, transported and stored at retailer stores for different months (one, two & three months) under ambient conditions.
After completion of predetermined interval seed was brought back, stored for 2 months under cold storage and its effect on seed
moisture content (SMC) and seed germination (SG) were recorded. Fresh and One time sales returned seed of 218+ showed
significantly low SMC (11.3 and 11.3%). But two times sales returned seed of 218+ and Profit hybrids showed significantly high
SMC (11.5 and 11.8 %). Seed of 218+ and Profit packed in Savegrain (P2), Polypouch (P1) and Triple layer bag (P3) recorded significantly lower pooled mean SMC (11.2, 11.3 and 11.3 %) when compared to Recyclable (P4) bag (11.6 and 11.4 %, respectively). Fresh and One time sales returned seed of 218+ hybrid showed significantly high seed germination (95 and 95%) compared to two times sales returned seed (53%). Seed of 218+ packed in Savegrain (P2), Polypouch (P1) and Triple layer bag (P3) recorded significantly higher pooled mean seed germination (82, 81 and 81 %) when compared to Recyclable bag (80%). Profit seed recorded significantly high seed germination (92%) even after 3 months of storage at retailer. Whereas 218+, recorded higher SG (83 %) only for one month at retailer.